Kandahar, Afghanistan
It must be graduation week, or at least it feels that way. There is a giddy atmosphere that seems to permeate everything we do. Morning rounds have become impromptu comedy routines. If I am reading that last sentence and not writing it I would probably be put off somewhat. When we round in the ICU for example, there are several people who may be in a "guarded" condition, others are trauma victims being being actively resuscitated or who have just come out of the OR with open abdomens or limbs missing. Still others may have devastating head injuries, and we are waiting for them to "declare" themselves as there may be nothing we can actively do to save their lives or restore neurologic function. How can one be silly or make jokes in this environment? One can, trust me. We don't poke fun of patients and they are not the objects of jokes. But there are usually several situations each day that beg to be lampooned, and I feel that it is a defense mechanism to deal with what we see daily.
A few months ago I ordered a "travel gnome" to lighten up the mood every so often. I have taken the gnome to various places around the base and have gotten dozens of people to pose with it. It's an automatic mood-loosener. Everyone needs a gnome or a gnome surrogate around here.
On Sunday we had our one and only sanctioned BBQ of the tour. Back in the days before General McCrystal the various units on post, to include the Role-3, would have a monthly BBQ to get the command together, hand out awards, and generally promote good morale. McCrystal nixed the monthly BBQ and allowed each unit one every six months. Our other parties - the goat-kebob luau and the pool party were financed through various fund raisers - selling t-shirts, ball caps and such. Our officially sanctioned BBQ had a theme - the 1980s. Now it's pretty hard to go to the Thrift Store to buy costumes and such, but where there is a will, there's a way. The best costume came from my ICU colleague, Corey, and his roommate, Joe. They fashioned a Devo outfit out of parts from the ICU and OR. The highlight of the evening was when Corey received his end-of-tour award - in his Devo outfit. Classic.
Corey got his award a day early because he left today for Kuwait. My numerical relief arrived four days ago, allowing one ICU watchstander to head home a couple of weeks early. It is a bittersweet parting for me as Corey and I climbed aboard a plane on January 26th to begin this odyssey. But I'm glad he will be home soon.
The International Security Assistance Force Medal that we all receive. All are awarded 3 unit awards including the ISAF award, and many will receive a personal award such as a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal. That's a lot of "chest candy" for one deployment...
Our flight schedule was posted yesterday. We move into tents next week and then board planes for Kuwait between 27 and 29 August. There are but two big events left: the mass arrival of our replacements and the Change of Command ceremony, where we officially hand the torch to our reliefs. We are giddy.
On Sunday we had our one and only sanctioned BBQ of the tour. Back in the days before General McCrystal the various units on post, to include the Role-3, would have a monthly BBQ to get the command together, hand out awards, and generally promote good morale. McCrystal nixed the monthly BBQ and allowed each unit one every six months. Our other parties - the goat-kebob luau and the pool party were financed through various fund raisers - selling t-shirts, ball caps and such. Our officially sanctioned BBQ had a theme - the 1980s. Now it's pretty hard to go to the Thrift Store to buy costumes and such, but where there is a will, there's a way. The best costume came from my ICU colleague, Corey, and his roommate, Joe. They fashioned a Devo outfit out of parts from the ICU and OR. The highlight of the evening was when Corey received his end-of-tour award - in his Devo outfit. Classic. 
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